Category: blog topics of general interest
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Nature’s Calligraphy: The Art of Seeing
We see how we think. What occupies our mind directly shapes our vision. In this post, I share a series of photos of ducks and swans that document my artistic shift from visual abundance toward minimalism. By observing waterfowl in their natural environment, you can trace what was driving me at the exact moment I…
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Lang Lang in Vienna and Other Music Anecdotes
What happens when you go skinny-dipping in a Carinthian stream with jazz legend Don Cherry, or watch Friedrich Gulda attack an amplified clavichord with a knife and fork? This personal reflection looks back on a golden era of musical rebellion in 1970s Austria and offers some insights into the world of classical music, the avant-garde,…
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The $20,000 Flea Market Find
I usually don’t spend much time digging through dusty boxes at the local flea market. But last Sunday, a bizarre album cover caught my eye.
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Buddhas Light and Other Joy
Yuan Yang region is home to several ethnic minority groups, predominantly the Hani (哈尼族) and the Yi (彝族). They maintain their own distinct clothing, lifestyles, cuisine, and customs. But there is more….
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Customs, Traditions, and Religion
A look at the local customs and spiritual life along the Tea Horse Road. In this region, Buddhism, Daoism, and local folk beliefs merge seamlessly.
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South of the clouds
”South of the Clouds” is more than just a name; it describes a shift in perspective. Moving through Lushi, Lincang, and Nakeli, we follow the Ancient Tea Horse Road deeper into a landscape shaped by altitude and history.
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Lushi, Lincang, Nakeli
Moving through Lushi, Lincang, and Nakeli, we continue our journey along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Time and again, we discover remarkable landscapes that remain deeply connected to their history.
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Every Day an Adventure, Every Day a Joy
Yunnan Spring Greetings (IV) “Every day an adventure, every day a joy.” It might sound a bit cliché, but here, one experience really does chase the next. We actually cancelled our planned trip to Mangshi (芒市) because Heshun and its surroundings simply have too much to offer. A couple we are friends with drove all the…
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Pure Dao – Shi Dong Si 石洞寺
I recently visited Shi Dong Si (石洞寺Stone Cave Temple), a place that feels almost suspended in time. It’s not just the architecture—the curved eaves and the weathered stone bridge—but the atmosphere.
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Density, Depth, Tradition, and Authenticity.
Yunnan Spring greetings (III) Density, Depth, Tradition, and Authenticity: Ever since my very first experiences in China back in 1978, these four concepts have been inextricably linked with my understanding of the country and its culture. So let’s first turn our gaze to a place that embodies all these qualities in a truly venerable way:…
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Just Shaxi and Fengyu. Yunnan Spring Greetings (II)
Journey to Shaxi (沙溪) On the way from Dali to Shaxi, we passed through Fengyu (凤羽). It’s a quiet, traditional town, famous for its intricate stone carvings and inkstones. A good place to see the rural side of Yunnan before entering the Shaxi valley. Authentic Flavors We had lunch there and the restaurant was simple…
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Before I Gotta Go: Minimalism, Dreams and Surreal Ink Painting
“Before I gotta go…” is an article about a new series on dreams, marking a deliberate departure from minimalism in favor of abstract depth. It introduces the concept of the “Oneiric Divide”—visualizing not the story of a dream, but the raw energy it leaves behind—and offers a glimpse into my upcoming dialogue on “Dot and…
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Don’t let the old man in
Don’t let the old man in is more than just a song title; it is a directive for maintaining an open spirit against bitterness. This article explores that mindset by contrasting striking political imagery with the artistic independence of my 2025 Yearbook, proving that staying young is a matter of attitude, not age.
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Winter Greetings,
Despite my well-known dislike for winter, I’ve been persuaded on a few trips and was always captivated by the profound stillness and light of the season. Encouraged by the response to my autumn post, here are a few winter impressions from Austria.
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Autumn Greetings,
This article explores autumn destinations near Vienna that are rich with the stories of historical figures. We trace the steps of the Habsburgs, visiting Empress Sisi’s and Emperor Franz Joseph’s favorite retreats in Laxenburg and the Vienna Woods. The journey also leads us to the Wachau Valley to recount the dramatic tale of King Richard…
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One planet, many perspectives
A deep dive into the La Gacilly-Baden Photo Festival under the theme ‘One Planet, Many Perspectives.’ This review journeys from the rituals of Papua New Guinea to the paradoxes of modern development, exploring powerful photography that confronts our world’s greatest challenges and finds a path to understanding, mindfulness, and ultimately, hope.
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The Gift of the Green Snake
The Gift of the Green Snake is an article about an unexpected gift and the resulting images.
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When Things Go Wrong.
When Things Go Wrong, they can go very wrong. After many years without serious problems, I experienced this first-hand.
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Every Picture Tells a Story
Every Picture Tells a Story. Let’s dive into the rich tapestry of Chinese minority people, captured in photographs from the hinterlands of northeast China, specifically Qinghai and the border area with Tibet, taken between 1979 and 1982.
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The Dao of Annual Planning in 2024
New Year’s Resolutions and Implementation Annual Planning and Dao: Today’s article focuses on a personal topic that I hope my valued readers can benefit from. It also includes reflections on topics such as SEO and AI, which were cut off during the year and are now revisited at the end of the year. When discussing…
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Merry Fir Tree
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You and Your Loved Ones!
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Emperor Hui Zong: When Rulers Still Loved Art
Emperor Hui Zong, a significant ruler of the Song Dynasty but also a remarkable artist and a patron of the arts.
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Discovering the Beauty in the Ugly
Exploring Aesthetic Sensibilities Through Photography. Discovering the Beauty in the Ugly – or at least discover something attractive in the ugly: In our last article, we delved into the concept of wabi-sabi and I shared some of my work. Thanks for the positive feedback! Today, we will go a step beyond wabi-sabi, using photos from…
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Andy Warhol, a Corpse, Opium, and a Botched Tribunal
“Andy Warhol, A Corpse in the Water, opium and a Botched Tribunal” – sounds like clickbait. And yet, as always, it’s all true.
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The Silk Road: Personal Reflections
The Silk Road: From a young age, I was fascinated by distant countries, with Asia and the Orient capturing my imagination the most.
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When you live in the most livable city in the world
Living in the world’s most livable city might sound surprising coming from me. Don’t worry, I haven’t switched to advertising, nor am I trying to become a tour guide as my fourth career.
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Can We Hear a Painting?
Can you hear a painting? The idea of paintings creating music has captivated artists for centuries.
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Emptiness, Space, and Depth
Emptiness, Space, and Depth: The Spring Collection. Selection of recent Artworks. Studies, sketches, paintings.
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Essence in Art: Less is More
Brainstorming on the subject of the soul. Due to requests that I was very pleased to receive, I would like to focus on the subject of the soul in this and the next post.
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break on through
The Doors, known for capturing exploration and the human desire to uncover the unknown in their music, embody the theme of breaking through to ‘the other side’. The 1970s era of experimentation with mind-altering substances, influenced by psychedelic art, has shaped graphic design. The artist, recently participating in exhibitions in London and Sao Paulo, reflects…
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Delving into the Realm of Seals on Artwork
Article about the fascinating world of Chinese seals. From a carver and collector. And above all, an enthusiast.
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Selection of New Works
Selection of new works: A small selection of recent works in different techniques.
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Petra and Sharm El Sheikh Trip
A trip to Petra and The Treasury of the Pharaoh, gorges, some desert and sea.
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Between Calligraphy and Painting
Who Sows Calligraphy will Reap Paintings. Between Calligraphy and Painting: In order not to get too boring, this article will be the last one for some time in which calligraphy sets the tone. We have already heard quite a bit about this high-quality art form by now. A few more aspects will be addressed today…
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Superior Haiku by Ashley
calligraphed by Friedrich. Superior Haiku by Ashley: This article is about a haiku (俳句 or hokku) [1] and the creative process of turning it into calligraphy. The wonderful poem is by Ashley. A short video shows the creation process. In the extra-part there are details about calligraphy. Many people know Ashley because of his beautiful…
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red dao and black zen
newly painted calligraphy. red dao and black zen: This article is about creating my series “painted calligraphy” [samples] with more details this time. Which can be a bit boring if you’re not fundamentally interested in the topic of calligraphy. I recently received a call from someone who had bought some of my paintings many years…
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Birthday present from Confucius and
one of the best love poems. Birthday present from Confucius: So I’m 70 years old now. So what?! Really – so what? How should I react? Emotional? Annoy me that I’m an old fart now? But I was an old fart last year too – and the year before. Don’t even think about it? This…
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old and new works
and thoughts and concepts. Old and new works – mostly new. And it’s about more than a few brush strokes. When Chinese people see my calligraphy, especially the one written in the traditional style (portfolio), they usually shower me with praise and emphasize that they could never do it that well. The second part of…
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About being happy – reflections and thoughts.
About being happy through the centuries. About being happy was not planned as a topic. But I promised a co-blogger, M, whose work I particularly admire, that I would write a few thoughts on the topic of being happy. Which of course can be seen as arrogance and I would therefore like to apologize for…
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2024 How do you set it up?
2024 – to defy or embrace? When I say that I welcome the New Year optimistic Daoistic, it may sound surprising given the world situation.
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new yearbook is out
surprising stats and tensions. New yearbook is out. To keep things interesting, this blog article comes with two extras. I’ll start with the extras first, and for some reason, the main text will come at the end. Contrary to my previous habits, the main text takes up a few thoughts on current events. These days,…
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Wu Wei a Key Term. Daoist Talks (X)
Chinese Painting and Wu Wei. Wu Wei is a key concept in Daoism. It is an idea that originated in ancient Chinese philosophy and is of central importance to Daoism. However, the term is not always easy to understand, at least for Westerners. But understanding it can help us in many ways, not only in…
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day dream job
and some remarks. Day dream job: Little boys, especially those of preschool age, often aspire to become firefighters or police officers. However, I’m not sure about girls’ future career aspirations. I’m also not sure what my vision was as a 5-year-old. Probably a demolitionist, since my father was one at the time. When I came…
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Between Here and There
and the Fever-night-creeper between here and there: The topic of this post first came about in reflection on dreams and waking up. One could consider “Here” as the normal state and “There” as the dream world. When we awaken, we are still surrounded by fragments of dreams, and we are between “There” and “Here.” Where…
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between cold and heat
We have an old joke: “Should you take medication if you have a cold?” “Absolutely! If you don’t take any, it will take 7 days until you get well again. If you take some, you’ll be back on your feet after 1 week.” Well, it took me more than 2 weeks to stay in bed…
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and the beat goes on
recent artworks. recent artworks: It’s not that there’s nothing to tell, nor that I don’t have enough new pictures to show, but I’m quite busy with a few projects. These projects require a lot of time and attention, so I’ll be posting less frequently in the near future. As someone who writes posts here, you…
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a kinda yin-yang too
Not many would immediately recognize the yin-yang aspects in the two images I present today. As an extra there is a short video about the presentation of Zen images.
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When the let-go period is over
Presentation: I have chosen a work that probably does not immediately cause a “love at first sight” feeling to everybod. Plus a book presentation video.
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not nothing this time, but
I actually wanted to write a post called “More Nothing” or something like that. However, my marketing director convinced me that giving my readers more nothing every week was not a recipe for success.
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works on meditation
Works on Meditation: According to a study experts estimate that the mind thinks between 60,000 – 80,000 thoughts a day. Of course, many thoughts seem very important to us. After all, they come from us.
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Another new morning for the same old sod
As I wrote in my last post, I treated myself to a 3-week spa stay. Well, a vintage car will no longer become a racing car. But a refurbished classic car also has its appeal, it is said.
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Elements of Rhyme
Elements of Rhyme pays homage to Dominik Alexander, an impressive living writer with the courage to innovate and a penchant for quality and individualism.
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Summer swan song – or the bitter croaking of ravens
The summer holidays are just around the corner and the last article concludes for the time being on the basis of 2 pictures with the theme of emptiness.
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Gaining by letting go
Gaining by letting go is again a formulation that could come from the field of esotericism. I have previously indicated that this is not an area in which I am proficient.
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about letting go
Flow and letting go. New series of abstract images on the subject of omission.
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What game shall we play today?
About knowing and believing. Quantum physicist Anton Zeilinger: “Sciences are good at measuring something, but cannot say anything about our being”.
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Cucumber cutting, abstracting and –
A few quick notes on our world of perception, from slicing cucumbers to the feeling of diving. And about abstraction itself.
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Something totally different: My new Friend Bing Chat
Something totally different: In various conversations, in social media, and also here on wordpress, I very often see a negative attitude towards ChatGpd and Bing Chat.
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Two Links – TV Portrait and Dao Index
Two links: I recently posted that a portrait of me would be shown on a Chinese and Austrian TV channel. It was broadcast on May 27th in Austria and May 30th in China.
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Bada Shanren Fish – Daoist Talks (IX)
Ziran is a fundamental concept in Taoism that can be understood as “naturalness” or “spontaneity.” It refers to the inherent nature and self-so of all things, emphasizing the importance of following the natural flow of the universe rather than resisting or attempting to control it.
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environment and nature topic
From time to time I dedicate myself to the topic of the environment in my paintings. This is also the case in this picture, which addresses the topic of environmental destruction in a special way.
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Interview for TV and Stream
Interview for TV and Stream: Earlier in the week I had a TV crew over at my house. A portrait was shot of me, which will be broadcast on Chinese television and on the streaming service.
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a poem about one of my paintings
A poem about one of my paintings by Dominik Alexander – and an extra poem by him.
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Daoist Talks (VIII) Ego versus Self
Daoism distinguishes between the ego and the self. The ego refers to the individual’s sense of self, which is often shaped by societal norms, cultural values, and personal experiences.
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the magic sea
Magic Sea Opera: Even if the idea that I would like to present today might sound unrealistic or at least utopian at first, I would by no means see it as unfeasible. Namely, the idea of an opera as a total work of art, in which the visual part is the actor
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I promised you the sky
In my penultimate post of photos with stones and sand from my last trip to Egypt, I promised to also show the sky. And so the chapter on Egypt comes to a close. As reported, I had the chance to take master classes with the greatest artist of all time: Mother Nature.
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The Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings: Showing photos of Luxor & Co, especially Panorama or the well-known murals, doesn’t make much sense. I would therefore like to show a few detailed shots that are less well-known or that are easily overlooked.
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Back from Egypt trip – stones and sands
My Egypt trip came to an end. Here is a small selection of a series of photos taken by the sea in Hurghada and area. Stones and sand were the focus.
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Criticism: Not amused with the Emperor
A few criticism examples by Chinese artists over time. Most of my blog posts deal directly or indirectly with art in the broadest sense. This is insofar as I attach great importance to dealing with Asian philosophies and art history in the broadest sense. I don’t touch on political issues, although this post might suggest…
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About Jack
About Jack: Our generation is part of so many new developments and we take many things for granted. And yet I am always enthusiastic about the opportunities that are given to us and what often results from them. And so today I would like to tell you about my friend Jack.
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gone they are
Depression: I would like to take up a topic again today and I promise it will be the last time – for this year. I recently wrote about my winter blues – and they’re gone! Hopefully sustainable.
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Getting rid of the Blues…..
Since my work is very much influenced by ideas from Chinese calligraphy, I wanted to try again to approach things in a more “western” way.
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Winter is here – with its gifts
Even if it’s difficult to predict something these days and even if a lot doesn’t last: my winter depressions are as certain as the back taxes. Nearly. The tax-back payment is more reliable in terms of time.
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Merry – what, actually?
Merry – what, actually? Enjoy your holidays!
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explanation and summary of #WordlessWednesday
Explanation and summary of #WordlessWednesday: I came across this initiative about half a year ago and although I don’t usually take part in any activities of this kind, this time it appealed to me.
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New Works for Old Series
A series that is particularly close to my heart is gestural expression. However, my progress in doing so is heavily dependent on how busy I am with calligraphy.
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goodbye #WordlessWednesday
With this last photo of the Wordless Wednesday Project, I would like to thank everyone who has followed this series and, of course, I would especially like to thank you for the numerous feedback and likes.
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black and white. more fish #WordlessWednesday
Black and white. More fish: A fisherman from Negombo points to his dried fish
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Jean Michel Basquiat Exhibition in Vienna
There are exhibitions that give me impulses and make me want to paint myself. However, Basquiat is of such greatness that afterward I ask myself whether it makes any sense at all to continue painting myself.
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the big catch #WordlessWednesday #snapshot
The big catch. Dedicated to the participants of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Photo for #WordlessWednesday
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Daoist Talks (III): The Cosmos in One Dot
Mindfulness in a dot After a lot of theory, we want to highlight practical aspects today, but first a summary of the last post: Everything is Dao, from the smallest dot to the universe; thus, everything is imbued with Dao, especially the counterplay of yin and yang. These are not opposing forces but depend on…
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busy painting the future #WordlessWednesday #snapshot
busy painting the future. huge wall painting, beijing, china . photo for #WordlessWednesday
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The Dreamweaver’s daughters cast their nets
The Dreamweaver’s daughters cast their nets and the Wolf hour are my last works on the dream cycle.
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belated halloween #WordlessWednesday #snapshot
basement window in the streets of verona, italy 2014. photo for #WordlessWednesday
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three strikes
Three strikes: Today I would like to present 3 newer works and will not write much about them. The first is a play on Zen thought. In the sense of what was said above, it remains without further explanations.
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soft drink delivery #WordlessWednesday
soft drink delivery in the medina of fez, morocco. photo for #WorlessWednesday
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standpoint and point of view #WordlessWednesday
A standpoint as point of view. Wien, Liesing 2022. Photo for #WordlessWednesday
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When stars were born – in my club
Posting about the time when stars like Falco frequented my studio.
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Daoist Talk (I) Supplement
Existence of the non-existence. The sound of one hand clapping. An afterword to Daoist talks (I)
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Daoist Talks (I): Two Daoist stories and a Daoist painting
Daoist Talks (I): Two Daoist stories and a Daoist painting. A first step into the world of Taoism in Chinese painting.